donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026

*Pictured above - the NWRRC team at the Caernarfon half-marathon and NW championships. (l-r): Rob Fryer, Stuart Culverhouse, Adam Lemalle, Steve Roberts, Nia Lister, and Kay Hatton. Gold medal and charity winners at the Caernarfon half-marathon championships... report by Don Hale and photos by John Hatton. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog A large field of some 720 quality and mixed ability athletes tackled the undulating Caernarfon half marathon last Sunday with many raising funds for local charities and other worthy causes. This event, well organised by  RunWales,  also included the North Wales half-marathon championships, and consequently attracted some of the top local club runners who competed for medals and glory.   *The first three male and female medal winners at the Caernarfon half marathon are shown above. Tom Roberts  (Meirionnydd RC) was the outstanding race winner in 1.09.25, with  James Nicholls  (Wrexham AAC) second in 1.13.0...

*Pictured above - the start of the new Padarn 5k race last Wednesday night (photo courtesy of SportpicturesCymru). Quality athletes and fast times at the new Padarn 5k race Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   There was a good turn-out of mainly elite and club runners at the brand new Padarn Sbrint 5k dash in midweek, where the first eight finishers all dipped under seventeen minutes, and Meirionnydd RC claimed the first four places. Owen Roberts  was the overall winner following a great performance in just 15 minutes and 37 seconds, on this flat and fast course alongside Llyn Padarn at Llanberis, but he faced a stern challenge from club rival  Daniel Kashi  in 15.44, and colleagues  Ben Harding  (16.15) and  Lloyd Williams  (16.19) also battled for top placings. Some other notable local results included  Aled Hughes  (GOG Triathlon) in 8th place in 16.59 and  Harry Driscoll  (Meirionnydd RC)...

*Pictured above - some of the NWRRC members at the Felinheli 10k - (l-r): Will Evans, Stuart Culverhouse, Hannah Griffith, Adam Lemalle, Steve Roberts and Kevin Slattery. A close finish at the blustery Felinheli 10k race in midweek   donhaleblog.blog.com/2026 coastandcountry.blog   It was very warm and windy for the challenging Felinheli 10k race in midweek, with three members of Meirionnydd RC finishing within the top four places overall. Tomos Roberts  and team-mate  Daniel Kashi  actually shared the exact same finishing chip times of 32 minutes and 21 seconds in a very close-run contest, with  Ifan Dafydd  claiming fourth place in 33.41; whilst in between the club rivals, was the promising youngster  Noa Vaughan,  who finished third in 32.53. In addition, there some excellent performances by many of the top ten finishers including  Steffan Sayer  (Menai T&F) in sixth place in 34.57, and from  Ian Edwards  (Eryri Har...

*NWRRC athletes Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost at the Aintree 10k North Wales duo galloped around the Aintree 10k Reports by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Welsh international and NWRRC veterans’  Cheryl Frost and Kay Hatton c elebrated prestigious podium places at the  Aintree 10k race  last Sunday amongst over 600 entrants, with Cheryl winning her F60 age category in 88th place overall as the 13th female in 46.26, whilst Kay finished equally well in 121st place overall as the 21st female finisher in 48.27, and she was second in the same age cat as Cheryl.   *Cheryl Frost - above left - with Kay Hatton and Harry Driscoll. Fast time for Harry at Tatton Park 10k Meirionnydd RC athlete   Harry Driscoll   enjoyed a great run in the   Tatton Park 10k   last Saturday finishing in 10th place overall out of 982 entrants, and he was 6th in his Senior Men age cat in a fast time of 36.24.

*Pictured above – some of the NWRRC team at the start of the Twin Piers race.   Fast times from the gun at the Twin Piers 10k and North Wales championship race... Report by Don Hale donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025   Over 300 quality athletes competed in the annual Arthur Bebbington Twin Piers 10k race last Saturday afternoon, which covered a scenic route between Llandudno to Colwyn Bay piers. Entrants came from a vast range of nationwide running clubs and social runners, with the event well organised by  Colwyn Bay AC , and it also formed part of the  North Wales Regional 10k championships. Meirionnydd RC  claimed a unique hat-trick in the 10k with three of their team taking the first three finishing places overall.  Owen Roberts  was the runaway winner of the race in a fast gun time of 31 minutes and 59 seconds, with  Ben Harding  second, and a minute adrift in 32,59, whilst  Gwion Roberts  took the third spot, and he was almost a mi...

Martin and Carla (*pictured above) both won their age cats at the Golden Ball 20-mile race at Lancaster. Martin and Carla Green on top form at the Golden Ball 20-miler. Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2025 Martin and Carla Green both won their respective veteran age categories at the Golden Ball 20-mile race on Sunday, which part of the Lancaster Races series of events. Now competing for  Meirionnydd RC , Martin was in fine form again, and he finished 5th overall and won his MV50 cat in a very good time of 1 hour 57 minutes and 54 seconds, with Carla, from  North Wales Road Runners , also winning her FV50 age cat in 46th place, and she was the fourth female finisher in 2.30.21. For Martin, this was his second race over the weekend after first competing for his club in the Mid Cheshire 5k race on Friday night, where he recorded another excellent time of just 16 minutes and 18 seconds.  After his 20-mile race on Sunday, Martin confirmed : “My biggest ever month...

*Pictured above - the powerful locomotive that challenged the runners. Quick 5k dash to ‘Race the Highland train.' Report by Don Hale.  Many photos courtesy of Lesley Goodson, and Prestatyn RC. https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk *Three NWRRC members at Dinas station (l-r): Gwennan Charlton, Daniel Hennell and Hannah Griffith, and (*above right), some Prestatyn RC members on the train.   For many people, it’s just a race to catch the train, but last Wednesday night nearly 300 runners opted to ‘Race the Highland Train,’ in this very popular annual 5k event, with everyone enjoying a ride out to the start at Dinas station after departing from the initial assembly point at Caernarfon. The conditions were good on this fast downward course, with a generous number of club and social runners taking part and naturally recorded some very good times.  Meirionnydd RC took many of the plaudits with four club members in the first five places, including the ...